Hydrogel pad
OwnerShelby Michael Reed, Carlos Suarez +1inventors
InventorsShelby Michael Reed, Carlos Suarez, Thaddeus Wawro
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Abstract
A hydrogel pad is configured for use with an electrode or a wearable device to measure vital signs of a patient. The hydrogel pad includes a flexible support having one or more openings in which hydrogel is disposed. A membrane covers one side of the hydrogel to protect it from gaining or losing too much moisture. A removable backing covers the other side of the hydrogel until it is applied to a patient, at which point the other side contacts the patient's skin. The protective membrane can be pierced by an angular conductive contact of a device to contact the hydrogel creating an electric conduit between the patient and the device. When the device is removed, the membrane at least partially closes to cover and protect the hydrogel.
Claims21
1-7. (canceled)
A vital signs monitoring device comprising:
- a hydrogel pad having a first side configured to contact skin of a patient, and a second side opposite the first side and configured to contact conductive contacts of a vital signs patch device, the hydrogel pad comprising:
- a flexible support having a first opening and a second opening;
- a first hydrogel portion disposed within the first opening and a second hydrogel portion disposed within the second opening;
- and
- a membrane covering each of the first hydrogel portion and the second hydrogel portion on the first side of the hydrogel pad, the membrane having a perforation positioned over each hydrogel portion, wherein the membrane is affixed to the flexible support;
- and
- the vital signs patch device comprising:
- a housing containing a processing device and a memory device;
- and
- a first conductive contact and a second conductive contact in electrical communication with the processing device, the first conductive contact and the second conductive contact each protruding from the housing and having a pointed shape, wherein the first conductive contact is configured to pierce the perforation in the membrane over the first hydrogel portion and contact the first hydrogel portion, and the second conductive contact is configured to pierce the perforation in the membrane over the second hydrogel portion and contact the second hydrogel portion.
An electrode assembly comprising:
- a hydrogel pad having a first side configured to contact skin of a patient, and a second side opposite the first side and configured to contact an electrode, the hydrogel pad comprising:
- a flexible support having an essentially flat shape with a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and an opening through a thickness of the flexible support;
- a hydrogel portion disposed within the opening, the hydrogel portion having a first surface adjacent the first surface of the flexible support and a second surface adjacent the second surface of the flexible support, the hydrogel portion having a thickness essentially equal to the thickness of the flexible support;
- and
- a membrane covering the second surface of the hydrogel portion and adhered to the second surface of the flexible support;
- and
- an electrode contact comprising:
- a support surface comprising non-conductive material;
- a piercing electrical contact comprising conductive material and shaped to puncture through the membrane and contact the hydrogel portion;
- and
- a conductive lead wire coupled to the piercing contact and configured to electrically couple the electrode contact to a device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.